Following a lengthy military hiatus that began in 2022 with the enlistment of eldest member Jin, BTS is gearing up for an extraordinary celebration to mark their debut anniversary.
The group’s military service relay began when Jin enlisted, and over the past two years, members have been completing their duties one by one. Last year, Jin returned from service in June, followed by J-Hope in October, both of whom pursued solo activities.
Most recently, RM and V were discharged on June 10, with Jimin and Jungkook following on June 11, marking the return of all six active members from mandatory military service. SUGA, who has been serving as a social service worker, is scheduled for discharge on June 21.
With BTS officially back as civilians, the annual ‘BTS Festa’ celebration of their debut day (June 13) is set to be grander than ever.
Since their debut in June 2013 with the single “2 COOL 4 SKOOL,” BTS has distinguished themselves by actively participating in songwriting, composing, and producing, crafting a unique musical identity and performance style that has captivated global K-pop fans. Their unprecedented achievements include becoming the first Korean act to top the Billboard charts, delivering a speech at the United Nations, and winning the American Music Award’s top honor.
To mark their 12th anniversary and impending full-group comeback, this year’s ‘BTS Festa’ will be on a historic scale. On June 13 and 14, the event will take place at KINTEX Exhibition Hall 2 in Goyang City, Gyeonggi Province, featuring more than 20 interactive booths for an extensive offline fan experience.
For fans unable to attend in person, the festival will also be streamed online, complementing content released from June 2 to 13 such as ‘Hoseokjin Photo,’ ‘Anchor Battle,’ and ‘Today’s ARMY★613’ to engage fans worldwide.
The festival’s grand finale will be J-Hope’s world tour encore concert, ‘HOPE ON THE STAGE,’ held on June 13 and 14 at the Goyang Sports Complex near KINTEX. J-Hope will debut new songs live during this special concert, coinciding with BTS’s debut anniversary and drawing intense anticipation from ARMYs worldwide.
At the venue, fans can explore a large-scale ‘ARMY Bomb Photo Spot’ featuring a giant ARMY Bomb lightstick combined with a dazzling lighting show at the center of the hall. Other highlights include a ‘Voice Zone’ where visitors can hear messages from the members, a ‘Trophy Zone’ showcasing BTS’s remarkable achievements with ARMY, and the ‘BTS Locker’ exhibiting treasured personal items from the artists.
The festival also offers immersive activities such as creating pin buttons and sachets at the ‘DIY Zone,’ coloring BTS album artwork at the ‘Coloring Wall,’ and listening to BTS-curated music playlists on Spotify, ensuring an engaging and unforgettable celebration for fans worldwide.
